Avizandum. In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters avizandum. A few weeks ago, Gooden and I were returning from Europe and had a layover in London. The incoming flight to London was late, which meant that we missed our flight to Charlotte.
So we spent the night in a hotel, which was paid by British Airways. Before the flight the next day, after getting through security and immigration and so on, good enough for breakfast, and then looked around the stores at the airport. I'm not a shopper, but did find myself in a bookstore. I picked up a book by Morgan Hausel. That's H O U S E L.
I think that's how you pronounce his name, Houseel. Entitled "The Psychology of Money," the subtitle was "Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness." The cover also stated that over eight million copies had been sold. The back cover stated, "Money is everywhere. It affects all of us and confuses most of us." Few topics offer a more powerful magnifying glass that helps explain why people behave the way they do than money. It's one of the greatest issues on earth.
Now, this is not a Christian book, but I find it fascinating. The scriptures have much to say about money and greed. The Bible doesn't talk so much about happiness, but it does talk about joy, wise living, peace. And living a life pleasing to the Lord.
So I picked up the book after the meal on the 777 as we flew from London to Charlotte, North Carolina. I settled down to read *The Psychology of Money*. The book made me think about money and wealth in a somewhat different way. For example, Houseal argues that "the highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up every morning and say." I could do whatever I want today. He goes on to say that people want to become wealthier to make them happier, and while happiness is a complicated subject, there is a common denominator in happiness.
Money fuels this ability to do what you want, when you want, with whom you want, and for as long as you want. In other words, with money, or rather with wealth, you can control your life. He believes then that this is the highest dividend money pays, the freedom to do what you want. He refers to a psychologist, Angus Campbell. His book in 1981 argued that the most powerful common denominator of happiness was, quote, having a strong sense of control in one's life.
And that's a more dependable predictor of positive feelings of well-being than any other of the objective conditions of life we had considered.
So, if money gives us the ability to control our lives, it's great to be wealthy. Housel says that this is the highest dividend money pays.
So he says, most people say they want to be a millionaire, but what they actually mean is, I'd like to spend a million dollars. And spending a million dollars is literally the opposite of being a millionaire. The way to be rich is to spend the money you have, and not to spend money you don't have. Singer Rihanna nearly went bankrupt over overspending, and she then sued her financial advisor. The adviser responded: "Is it really necessary to tell her that if you spend money on things, you will end up with the things and not the money?" Well, it's quite funny, but this is often how people approach money.
It's all about spending rather than thinking of wealth, which gives an option to buy something later, as opposed to spending everything we have now. As I reflected on this book, I thought. If having wealth means we can control our own life and do what we want, and that this is the common denominator of happiness, why is it that so many people who are obviously wealthy, who have accumulated a lot of wealth in property, portfolios, businesses, and homes, etc., are clearly unhappy? Having wealth does give options which we may not otherwise have. But do these options create more happiness?
From the Christian perspective, life is not about doing what we want, but rather is pleasing our Creator, who made us, who knows what makes us happy and sad, and realizing that everything we have is a gift from our gracious God, and that whatever we have is not to be used in a self-indulgent way, but for His glory.
So. In First Timothy six, Paul writes that those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. That doesn't seem like happiness to me, does it? Paul goes on to say, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil." It's through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
So there is an illusion here. Our wealth is a gift from God, who gives us the ability and the power to make the wealth. But to love money is a way of self-destruction. It is not the way of happiness. If we love money, we're really controlled by money.
We're gripped by money, and all of life then is about getting more and more money. On the other hand, the follower of Jesus realizes that everything we have comes from Him. We're to be content in every circumstance of life, knowing that life is a gift from God. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, and God and His grace. Gives us resources, the energy to work, so we can take care of our family, and help others, and to understand that our wealth comes from the good hand of God.
We are to love not money, but we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength. Happiness and contentment are not found by pursuing wealth. But by seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all of the things of life, including money, are added to us. Avizandum. You're listening to the weekly Avizandum podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe.
John is senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about The Verdict Ministry, visit us online at CalvaryChurch dot com slash The Verdict.
